Not just the athletic field is involved in sports medicine. This just means that physical activity that results in an injury is covered by this branch of orthopedics. The injuries will come about because of various damaging activites on the cartilage or ligaments of the joints. The majority of the injuries happen in the major joints but can happen to any part of the body.
A rotator cuff tear is a common shoulder injury for an athlete.The movement of the arm is coordinated by the rotator cuff at the shoulder and is made up of four different muscles and tendons. When there is a tear in one of these muscles it can cause a person serious pain and mobility loss in the shoulder.
There are both non-surgical and surgical treatments for a rotator cuff tear. Surgery is only required if a person can not relieve their pain any other way. This is done with an arthroscopic technique. The recovery time from this surgery is minimal.
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair is a common procedure that is performed. It is a repair that is located in the knee. Usually a person that has a tear in their knee will hear a noise sounding like a pop. There are non-surgical treatments but usually arthroscopic surgery is necessary.
Repetitive physical activity can lead to shin splits. This will cause the muscles to become fatigued and need extra force on the shin bone. Shin splints are usually treated by getting plenty of rest and doing no physical activity for awhile. Surgery for this injury is usually not necessary.
The largest tendon in the body is the Achilles tendon, which connects the muscles that are in the back of lower part of the leg to a person’s heel bone. It is essential to a person’s mobility. A tear can occur when it is overstretched during physical activity. Surgery is normally the best option to return it back to its normal performance.

